What is Identity & Access Management (IAM)? Everything you need to know

Organisations today work with countless systems, applications, and data sources. From HR systems to financial software and from email to cloud platforms. All these tools need to be accessible to employees securely and efficiently. But how do you manage that smartly, without endless manual administration?

The answer is Identity & Access Management (IAM). In this article, we explain what IAM is, why it is crucial for modern organisations, and how it can help your company work more securely and efficiently.

What exactly is IAM?

Identity & Access Management (IAM) is the process by which organisations manage digital identities and determine who gains access to which systems and data.

With IAM, you ensure that:

• The right person has access to the right information,

• At the right time,

• And under the right conditions.

In short: IAM is about “the right access, for the right person, in the right way.”

Why is IAM important?

1. Security and compliance
   IAM helps prevent data breaches and supports compliance with regulations such as GDPR and ISO 27001. Access to sensitive data can be limited to only those who truly need it.

2. Efficiency for HR and IT
   Without IAM, HR and IT departments spend a lot of time manually creating, modifying, or closing accounts. IAM automates this process, ensuring employees have immediate access to the right systems upon onboarding, and accounts are automatically removed upon offboarding.

3. Better user experience
   IAM makes employees' work easier. With Single Sign-On (SSO), they log in once to access all necessary systems. Add Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), and you combine user-friendliness with extra security.

How does IAM work in practice?

IAM often consists of a combination of:

• Provisioning – automatic assignment and revocation of rights.

• Authentication – verifying whether someone is truly who they claim to be (e.g., via password + SMS code).

• Authorisation – determining which data or applications someone may use.

• Monitoring – insight into who had access when, important for audits and compliance.

A concrete example:

• A new employee starts at the HR department.

• HR enters the data into the HR system.

• IAM automatically ensures that the employee gets access to email, intranet, and the HR tool.

• If the role changes, the permissions are automatically adjusted.

• Upon departure, all accounts are immediately closed.

IAM and HR-driven provisioning

A modern IAM solution works HR-driven. That means the HR system is the source of truth. As soon as HR makes a change (e.g., new employee, role change, or offboarding), IAM follows automatically with the correct adjustments in all connected systems.

This prevents errors, saves time, and aligns perfectly with how organisations work.

The role of IAM in Zero Trust Security

More and more organisations are moving to a Zero Trust model: no one gets access by default, every access is verified. IAM forms the foundation for this. Without well-organised IAM processes, Zero Trust is simply not feasible.

IAM in practice: where to start?

If you want to start with IAM, it is wise to begin with:

1. Inventory – what systems and data do you use?

2. Defining – what roles and permissions exist within your organisation?

3. Automating – let your HR system be the engine for access management.

4. Monitoring – ensure you always have insight into who has (and had) access.

Conclusion

Identity & Access Management (IAM) is much more than an IT solution: it is a crucial part of working securely, efficiently, and compliantly. With IAM, you give employees the right access immediately, protect sensitive data, and save HR and IT a lot of time.

IAM is no longer a luxury, but a basic requirement for every modern organisation.